Ford’s long and proud history in South Africa is inextricably linked to Gqeberha – after all, it’s where Ford Motor Company of South Africa was founded in 1923.
Some 41 years later, Henry Ford II officially opened the Struandale Engine Plant. With an investment of R8 million in the new facility at the time, it positioned Ford as the first motor company in South Africa to manufacture engines locally, and it has played a central role in Ford’s manufacturing and export operations ever since.
At the end of August 2023, the Struandale Engine Plant produced its four-millionth engine – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Bi-Turbo diesel engine that will be installed in a new Ranger bakkie (pickup) at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria.
Fittingly, this major milestone also coincides with the 300 000th 2.0L Single Turbo/Bi-Turbo diesel engine being produced at Struandale since this programme was launched in 2018.
The Struandale Engine Plant also produces the 2.2L and 3.2L Duratorq TDCi engines that were introduced in 2011, as well as the new 3.0L V6 Diesel engine that powers the range-topping models in the new Ranger line-up, with production commencing in 2022 following a R600 million investment.
“The Struandale Engine Plant has been instrumental in Ford’s development and growth over the past 59 years, particularly for our export operations. The four million total engine production, along with the 300 000 2.0L Single Turbo and Bi-Turbo diesel engines assembled to date, are remarkable achievements,” says Ockert Berry, VP Operations, Ford South Africa.
Berry said,
“We have an installed capacity for producing 720 vehicles per day running on three shifts to meet the global demand for Ranger, but we already exceeded that target twice in August this year with peaks of 736 and 737 vehicles,” he says.
“This is not only the highest production we’ve achieved for the Silverton Assembly Plant, but is also a record for the South African motor industry. And, with all the engines used in our locally-assembled Ranger coming from Struandale, it’s a major achievement for both of our plants.”
To date the Struandale plant has produced 11 different engine types, starting off in 1964 with the 1.7L and 2.0L V4, the much-loved Essex V6, as well as the 1.3L and 1.6L Kent four-cylinder engines.
